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Klausen Synagogue in Prague

On our tour of Jewish sights in Prague we cannot leave out a very important building which is situated in close proximity of the Old Jewish Cemetery  and thus forms a part of the Jewish Town. We are speaking of the Klausen Synagogue (czech Klausová synagoga) which is one of the six historical premises of the Jewish Museum in Prague.

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The name
Before we begin with the tour of the synagogue, we ought to clarify why it takes the name „Klausen”. It can be explained in two ways. According to the first version, the name is derived from the German word “Klause”– a small building. The other interpretation refers to three clauses, i.e. three functions – the synagogue, a hospital and a bathhouse. Well, since we have the name sorted out, we can get to the history of this unique building.

History
The original synagogue was built on an additionally purchased plot in 1573 by then Czech Primate Mordecai Meisel (czech: Mordechaj Maisel), however it succumbed to great fire in 1689. Thanks to Solomon Chalis Cohen a new tabernacle was built in 1694 and it became the largest and the second major synagogue of Prague Jewish Community. The building underwent further reconstruction in 1880s.

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The major feature of the synagogue is a richly stucco decorated vault. The synagogue consists of a main building and two annexes. As you could have already noticed, nearly all windows have semicircular finish. Unfortunately, the original Baroque vaults preserved just in the main hall. Please, look at the east face where you can see a distinctive and interesting element – a triangular gable with Commandment Tablets at the post and an inscription tablet from the late 17^th century. Regrettably, religious service is not held here at present, nevertheless, the synagogue houses a permanent exhibition of Jewish Museum called Jewish Customs and Traditions.

Klausen Synagogue Exhibition
The first part of the exhibition can be found in the main nave. It deals with issues concerning religious service during weekdays and holidays. Now we are in the centre of a room which used to have a rostrum at the time the synagogue was fully functional. Exhibits from Jewish Ghetto also include an unreeled Torah scroll (The Five Books of Moses). Objects placed around the scroll are accessories which are absolutely inevitable for reading in the most significant Jewish book. They include a hand, a curtain, a wimple, a breastplate and an Ark. The display case shows prayer-books and other ritual objects, as well. Along the walls you can see display cases featuring High Holy Days (including: the New Year, the Day of Atonement, pilgrimage holidays). It’s also worth seeing the collection of Hanukkah candle holders and scrolls of the Book of Esther.

After visiting the first part of the exhibition, we will move on to the second part with an interesting title – Lifetime. The exhibition naturally starts with a birth, also the male and female circumcision is explained and the course of the whole ritual is described here. Another very important section is dedicated to panegyric wedding ceremonies. And last but not least, we can take a look into a typical Jewish household. The display shows objects and equipment which a true Jewish family could not do without.

This all and many other interesting facts are hidden under the roof of the religiously inactive Klausen synagogue. Understanding the Jewish lifestyle is very difficult and therefore a visit to such exhibitions, in my opinion, is highly beneficial in order to comprehend and clarify customs and life of this community.

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Photo Gallery:

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Contact:

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Adress:
Klausen Synagogue (Klausová synagoga)
U Staré školy 1, 110 00
110 00, Praha 1 – Staré Město/Josefov,
Tel: 222 749 211
E-mail: office@jewishmuseum.cz
Web: http://www.jewishmuseum.cz/en/aklaus.htm

GPS: 50.089912,14.417227

Entrance Fee and Open hours – click here

Public Transport:
Underground/Subway – Line A, Staroměstská station
Tram 17, 18, 53 – Staroměstská

Transport connection:
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Information on Prague transport: click here
Information on Prague public transport: click here
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Map:

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DOWNLOAD: Tourist Guide in the Area

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  Tourist guide PRAGUE CITY LINE - Prague 1 (7,0 MiB, 18 143 hits)

Prague 1 still belongs to one of the most attractive parts of the whole Prague. Probably nowhere else you can find such a concentration of historic monuments and places where the history and romance of bygone times are all around you. Hardly anywhere you can walk on the same paths where were walking Franz Kafka, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the Golem of Prague.

 

Other interesting links – Read also

All about: Prague 1 Monuments more read here
All about: Prague 2 Monuments more read here
All about: Prague 3 Monuments more read here
All about: Prague Castle more read here
All about: Royal route and the coronation of King more read here
All about: Petrin Hill more read here
All about: Old Town Square more read here
All about: Jewish Prague more read here
All about: Prague Gardens and Parks more read here

Tags: Church monuments, Jewish monuments, Monuments Prague 1
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Monuments: Klausen Synagogue, Prague Jewish Town

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